Golf practice device



NOV. 23, 1954 M TRAPP 2,695,175

GOLF PRACTICE DEVICE Filed Dec. 3, 1951 IN VEN TOR.

I Leroy M, 77

4/ ATTORME von one end thereof that United States Patent GOLF PRACTICE DEVICE Leroy M. Trapp, Kansas City, Mo. Application December 3,1951, Serial No. 259,577 2 Claims. (Cl. 273196) This invention relates to the sporting field, the primary object being to provide a practice device of the kind having to do primarily with the game of golf and adaptable for use in the aid of stances or posture on the part of the player whereby to teach the imperfections in weight dis tribution as the ball is struc It is the most important object of this invention to provide in connection with a tiltable platform, means within the path of travel of the club that must be retracted by proper weight distribution before the ball can be struck by the player.

It is an important object of the present invention to provide a golf practice device having a tiltable platform representing a teeing station upon which the player stands and having means for automatically retracting a flexible finger from behind a golf ball when the platform is tilted in one direction, so that, it can be determined from the position of the finger whether or not the body weight is properly balanced at the moment of striking the ball.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a golf practice device having balance-determining means as above set forth, together with structure for additionally indicating hooks, slices, lofting or grounding.

Other objects of the present invention include the way in which the ball is mounted on one end of an elongated shaft whereby hook and slice are indicated through deflection of the other end of the shaft; and more minor objects, including details of construction, all of which will be made clear or become apparent as the following specification progresses, reference being had to the accompanying drawing, wherein:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of the golf practice device embodying the present invention, parts being broken away for clearness.

Fig. 2 is a side elevational view of the device shown in Fig. 7.

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary, top plan view thereof.

Fig. 4 is a cross-sectional view taken on line X-X of Fig. 8.

Referring now to the accompanying drawing, a playersupporting platform 100 is swingable on a horizontal axis through the medium of a transverse shaft 102 pivotally carried by a support 104. A frame 106 associated with the platform 100, and secured to the support 104, has a small platform 108 over which a ball 110 is normally disposed.

The frame 106 is adjustable relative to the support 104 through the medium of a pair of L-shaped brackets 112 and slots 114 extending longitudinally of the support 104 and adapted to receive bolt and nut fastening means 116. It is to be preferred that the brackets 112 hold the frame 106 with the platforms 100 and 108 normally flush at the uppermost surfaces thereof, i. e. when platform 100 is substantially level.

An elongated arm 118 partially underlies the platform 108 and is provided with an upstanding, flexible finger 120 extends upwardly through an elongated slot 122 formed in the platform 108. The opposite end of the arm 118 is secured to the tiltable platform 100 through the medium of an upstanding plate 124 that is in turn secured to the platform 100.

A vertical series of openings 126 in the plate 124 adjustably receive bolt and wing nut fastening means 128 for the arm 118. The platform 100 is slotted longitudinally as at 130 to adjustably receive the plate 124.

A fulcrum bar 132 for the arm 118 has a vertical slot 134 for receiving wing nut-bolt fastening means 136 that also passes through a longitudinal slot 138 formed in the support 104. An elongated opening 140 in the fulcrum member 132 receives the arm 118.

A pivotal mounting or bearing frame 106 has a tube 144 secured thereto and, an elongated rod 146 is telescoped within the tube 144 for free reciprocable movement therein. The bearing device 142 is of conventional character and may be purchased on the open market. It is of a nature to permit swinging movement of the tube 144 and accordingly, of the rod 146 in a plurality of directions. Golf ball 110 is mounted upon one end of the rod 146, the latter having a shoulder 148 for receiving one end of a spring 150 that is coiled about the rod 146 between the shoulder 148 and the bearing means 142.

A second spring 152 is coiled about the rod 146 near the opposite end thereof and is disposed between the proximal end of the tube 144 and a cross-pin 154 carried by the rod 146.

A pair of coil springs 156 connected to the tube 144 intermediate the ends thereof, extend from tube 144 in opposite directions and are connected by upstanding, perforated brackets 158 carried by the frame 106. Nut and bolt means 160 on each spring 156 respectively, selectively pass through any one of the several perforations of the brackets 158 to permit adjusting of the height of the springs 156 and accordingly, of the tube 144 relative to the frame 106.

A target support 162 carried by the frame 106, has an elongated, vertical slot 164 behind which is mounted a suitable gong or other noise-making means. A paper target 168 covers the slot 164 on the opposite side of the support 162 and may be removably affixed to support 162 in any suitable manner.

Indication of the tilting of the platform 100 in one direction may take the form of a bell 170 on the support 104 within the path of travel of the platform'100. Alternately or for use with bell 170, there may be provided an electric switch 172 that is actuated by the platform 100 when the same is tipped in one direction. The switch 172 may be used in connection with any suitable electric circuit not shown, for igniting a lamp whereby to indicate to the player whether or not proper balance is attained.

In this same connection, it is obvious that the bell 170 and/or the switch 172, the shaft 102 or other with the platform 100.

In the operation of the device the practicer takes his position facing ball 110. According to fessionals skilled in this field, the platform 100 should be level at the time the swing is commenced. As the club is swung from a starting position adjacent the platform 108, the weight of the body should shift to the right foot and virtually all of the weight of the player should be on the right foot by the time the club reaches the uppermost end of its path of travel over the shoulders of the player. Thus, when the weight shifts to the right foot, that end of the platform 100 adjacent the plate 124, will move downwardly toward the support 104, projecting the finger 120 upwardly through the slot 122 by the action of arm 118 acting on fulcrum 132. The finger 120 is thereby in front of the ball 110 within the path of travel of the club and, unless the player properly shifts his balance as he swings, the club will hit the finger 120 instead of the ball 110 indicating improper balance. If however, the player properly shifts his Weight from the right foot to the left foot with all of his weight on the left foot at the time the club reaches the finger 120, then the latter will have retracted and the club will hit the ball 110 instead of the finger 120. In this connection, many professionals argue that the weight of the body should be evenly distributed on both feet at the time of the striking of the ball and in such cases it is a simple matter to merely make the necessary adjustments in arm 118 with respect to plate 124 and/or in the fulcrum 132 relative to the support 104.

It is also arguedthat there is a difference as to weight distribution at the point of impact and at the position of the club just prior to hitting of the ball. In such cases of argument, the frame 106 may be shifted relative to the support 104 by loosening of the fastening means 116 thus,

142 carried by the moving parts having connection shown in the drawing, upon the, platform 100 the theory of many promay be operably associated with is moving the finger 1'20 closer or further away from the ball 110. If necessary, adjustments may be made in the plate 124 relative to the platform 100 and the fulcrum member 132 may also be adjusted along a horizontal path relative to the support 104.

In the event that the club strikes the ball .110 directly and squarely, or substantially so, the rod 146 will be driven through the target 168 and thence through the opening 164 to strike the gong 166 and thereby indicate a good drive. Rod 146 moves toward the support 162 against the action of spring 150 and the latter serves to return the ball 110 to the normal position shown in the drawings.

Spring 152 acts as a bumper for the return movement of rod 146. The free pivotal action that is made possible by the bearing structure 142 permits an incorrect drive andthe springs 156 yield to the movement of rod 146 in accordance with the manner of hitting ball 110. If the golfer fails to force the rod 146 through the opening 164, the target 168 will be struck and indented, whereby to indicate the extent of slice, hook, grounding or lofting of the ball.

Details of construction may vary, but such modifications as may fairly come within the spirit of the invention as defined by the scope of the appended claims, are contemplated hereby.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new and desired to be secured by Letters Patent is:

1. A device for assisting a golfer in correcting his swing, preparatory to and while making a practice stroke with a golf club, said device comprising a support; a platform; means mounting the platform on the support for swinging movement on a horizontal axis; means within the path of travel of said platform for limting the extent of swinging movement thereof, said platform being adapted to receive one foot of the golfer on each side respectively of said axis, whereby to swing the platform on said axis toward one end of its path of travel when the weight of the golfer is properly shifted from one foot to the other during said practice stroke; a second platform attached to one side of said support, there being an opening in said second platform; a flexible finger extending upwardly through said opening to a position within the path of travel of the club head; a projectile mounted on said second platform forward of the flexible finger within the path of travel of the club head so that the projectile cannot be struck until the finger has been withdrawn from said position; and structure operably interconnecting the platform and the finger for withdrawing the latter from said position when the platform is swung on said axis to one end of its path by the shifting weight of the go 'er.

2. A device as set forth in claim 1 wherein said structure includes a fulcrum bar on the support, a swingable arm carried by the bar in engagement therewith intermediate the ends of the bar, and means pivotally connecting the bar at one end thereof to said platform, the finger being secured to the bar at its opposite end.

References Cited in the file of this patent FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 242,400 Great Britain Nov. 12, 1925 414,401 Great Britain July 30, 1934 

